Traffic control figure



Jim. .31, W39. H. B. SNIDER $45,32-

TRAFFIC CONTROL FIGURE Filed Jan. 24, 1938 2 She'erQs-Shefl 1 Snnentor 1 5 i/mw Wide/f I fiw (Ittormg Jim. 31,. W39. H. SNiDER 2,145,322?

TRAFFIC CONTROL FIGURE Filed Jan, 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .s'cwom,

ZONE 51.0w 2

6 ttorneg Patented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STAT- ears 5 Claims.

This invention relates to traffic control figures, and has for one of its objects the construction of a dummy form representing a schoolboy holding a warning flag or other signal. It is particularly adapted to be placed in the middle of the street crossings and-at the connecting points of the street entrances to warn children of approaching vehicles. The figureshiay be twin images, or one may be belted in the customary manner, or capped and hooded as set out in this application. It is not intended to limit the figures to any special colors, or to confine the making of the figures to any given method or process. As produced at present, the figures areformed of paper material, which may be molded or pressed into shape, and is coated with lacquer and varnished sufiiciently to withstand exposure to the weather.

The object of this invention is the special construction and arrangement described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which Fig. 1 represents a side view of all the parts assembled.

Fig. 2 is a front view showing the manner of carrying the warning flag.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a part of the body and the thigh portions, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a modified form of the figure in a front view, with a different arrangement for holding the flag.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section lengthwise of one of the leg portions showing the longitudinal tube incorporated, and opening through the footshaped ends of the legs, on line 5-5 Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top view, slightly enlarged, of the ground plate which carries the figure.

Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a ground plate showing a slightly dished formation, and one means for securing the rod ends to the plate in detachable relation.

Throughout the drawings and description the same number is used to refer to the same part.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 it will be noted that the figure comprises an upper or body portion 1, above a second or thigh portion 2, and a third or leg portion 2'. The legs terminate in footshaped ends which stand on a plate 3, which is in use the ground plate or support of the figure. The plate ii has a special construction. It is made with spaced openings 4, 5 and 6 separated by solid portions of the plate upon which the foot-shaped ends of the leg portions are carried. It will be understood that the plate 3 is provided with vertical rod ends such as the ends 1 and 3 shown in Fig. '7 attached by nuts to the dished ground plate it. It is a feature of this invention to extend the rod elements upwardly through the legs, thighs and body of the figure as illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 1, and to project the rod or rod ends externally at the back of the figure to form a hand grip 9 by which the figure may be raised, carried or placed in position. Any form of hand hold may be adopted.

Considering Fig. 3, there will be noted a connecting member iii, usually a piece of wooden boa "d. The body and thigh portions 1 and 2 hate projecting or extended edges which overlap and areusually nailed to the edge of the board i6. The board has the rim form of the junction oithe body and thigh portions of the figure. Any'equivalent means may be employed to secure the body and thighs together strongly.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 4 the hands of the figures are shown as supporting a warning plaque or flag, announcing to the drivers of machines that a school is located near the figure and speed and progress must be governed .accordingly. The staff of the flag is usually carried by a copper pipe inserted through suitable openings in the hands of the figures.

In Fig. 5 the leg H has secured therein longitudinally a tube l3, and it will be also noted in this Fig. 5 that the edges of the thigh portion 2 and the leg H overlap and are nailed, or otherwise secured to a connecting block 52 of proper form to connect those portions. The tube opens through the foot-shaped terminations of the legs, one tube in each leg, and the rod ends I and 8 are adapted to be inserted into the tubes to hold the figure in a vertical position.

The openings 4, 5 and 6 or like in the ground plate 3, and also in the dished plate It, are for the purpose of avoiding any partial vacuum effect when the plate rests upon a wet street. The figure may be lifted easily and the plate does not stick to the street surface. While the figures may be formed of paper material, it is not the intention to limit their manufacture to any special substance.

In operation, the figures are placed at street crossings, or adjacent thereto, and it is found in practice that the drivers of motor vehicles quickly notice them and control the speed of their machines within suitable limits.

Having now described this invention and the mode of its operation, I claim:-

1. A trafiic control figure comprising in combination, a ground plate, a figure having an upper body portion, a thigh portion separable from the body portion, a wooden connecting board having the shape of the junction of the said body and thigh portions, said portions being constructed with extending edges fashioned to engage the edge of the said connecting board and adapted to be nailed to said board, the edge of one portion being secured over the edge of the other portion, leg portions, the upper ends of the leg portions being constructed with extending edges, the lower part of said thigh portions having spaced projecting edges of the same form as the edges of the leg portions, connecting blocks constructed to fit within said spaced thigh edges and upper leg edges, the said edges one upon the other being nailed to said connecting blocks, said leg portions being provided with foot-shaped lower ends, and means for connecting said footshaped ends and said ground plate in detachable relation.

A traffic control figure comprising in combination, a ground plate, a body portion, thigh portions, leg portions provided with foot-shaped ends, the said body and thigh portions being constructed with extending edges, formed connecting members arranged to engage the said extending edges of said body and thigh portions and secured thereto, the said thigh portions and leg portions having corresponding extending edges, formed connecting members engaging the said extending edges of the thigh and leg portions and secured thereto, and means for connecting the said foot-shaped ends of said leg portions and the said ground plate.

3. The combination with a figure having spaced leg portions provided at their lower ends with foot-shaped portions, of a ground plate having spaced openings extending through the plate, and means constructed and arranged to secure the said foot-shaped ends of the said leg portions upon the said ground plate between the said openings whereby air may pass through the openings and beneath the ground plate when the figure is raised.

4. A tramc control figure comprising in combination, a ground plate, a body portion, thigh portions, leg portions, said thigh and leg portions having corresponding extending edges at the ends thereof, formed connecting members arranged to engage the said extending edges of the said thigh and leg portions and secured thereto, said leg portions having foot-shaped ends arranged upon the said ground plate, metal tubes passing upwardly through the foot-shaped ends and leg portions and through the said formed connecting members, and rod portions passing upwardly through said ground plate and into said tubes, and the lower ends of said rod portions being secured to the said ground plate.

5. A traflic control figure comprising in combination, a ground plate, a body portion, thigh portions, leg portions, said thigh and leg portions having corresponding extending edges at the ends thereof, formed connecting members arranged w to engage the said extending edges of the said thigh and leg portions and secured thereto, said leg portions having foot-shaped ends arranged upon the said ground plate, rod portions passing upwardly through the ground plate and said leg portions of the figure, the said rod portions being extended upwardly through the body portion of the figure and formed into an external hand grip, and the lower ends of the said rod portions being secured to the said ground plate in detachable relation.

HARRY B. SNIDER. 

